Lalu kin to now face ED probe

ED is preparing to initiate inquiry against Lalu’s family members for violations of foreign exchange, money laundering laws The noose appears to be tightening around the family members of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, including his wife, son and daughters, as the Enforcement Directorate is preparing to initiate its own inquiry against them for possible violations of foreign exchange and money laundering laws.

“The agency is set to initiate its probe on the basis of the income-tax department investigation against them. The ED has sought all relevant documents pertaining to the case from the I-T department,” a source said. Besides, the ED has already arrested a chartered accountant, Rajesh Kumar Agarwal, allegedly linked to Lalu Yadav’s daughter Misa Bharti over a separate probe into a `8,000-crore money laundering racket involving two Delhi-based businessmen and a few political entities.

A source said: “Preliminary investigations by the agency revealed that Agarwal is also associated with some transactions involving M/s Mishail Packers and Printers Pvt Ltd. The firm Mishail is allegedly linked to Misa Bharti.” ED sleuths are also analysing the statement by Mr Agarwal during custodial interrogation, they added. Mr Agarwal was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for allegedly being instrumental in providing accommodation entries

(illegal funds) to launder the money of the two Delhi-based businessmen.

Officials suspect Misa was one of the many high-profile people who allegedly used Mr Agarwal to launder funds. Senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has already accused the RJD chief and his family of corrupt deals and claimed there was a link between Mr Agarwal and Lalu’s daughter. Mr Modi earlier accused Ms Bharti of laundering money through a shell company to buy a farmhouse in Delhi’s Bijwasan area at a throwaway price in 2008-09, when her father was a Union minister.

The I-T department recently charged six family members of the RJD chief under the new, stringent anti-benami law over its probe into alleged land deals worth `1,000 crores, and also tax evasion.

The I-T department also served notices of attachment of assets to Ms Bharti, Lalu Yadav’s son-in-law Shailesh Kumar, his wife and former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar’s deputy CM, and daughters Chanda and Ragini Yadav.